Temperance River State Park

TEMPERANCE RIVER STATE PARK

Bridge on the Gitchi Gami State Trail as it runs through the park

Rugged Lake Superior shoreline at Temperance River.

About the park

Iconic North Shore beauty lies everywhere you turn in this park, from the rocky Lake Superior Shoreline, to the breathtaking waterfalls and the awe-inspiring views of undisturbed forest and lake from atop Carlton Peak. The main wooded campground is located steps from the lakeshore and the cart-in sites have views of the lake, making them a great place to fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves against the rocky shore.

Two long-distance trails traverse this park: the paved Gitchi Gami State Trail and the natural footpath Superior Hiking Trail.

2019

63,700

Park Map Showing Project Sites

Our Project Stories

The final 40 acres

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Old hunting shack lies decaying in the woods.

This project land is mostly forested.

Project Years: 2013 - TBD

Project Acres: 40 in the forest

This 40-acre plot of forestland is the final piece of privately owned land within Temperance River State Park (note: while the US Forest Service owns the majority of the land within the park, it is public and managed by the park). This land provides vital wildlife habitat and holds the headwaters to a perennial stream flowing directly into Lake Superior.

Readily available records show this land was purchased by two unrelated men in 1919 and stories from the descendants say it was used for hunting. Time went by and by 1957 Temperance River was established as a park. The land made its way down the inheritance lines of each men, until 2013 when Parks & Trails Council purchased half interest in the land from one of the descendants and conveyed it to the park in 2014. At this point the land was essentially protected from any further development as the other owner would need approval from the park before taking action.

Then in 2018 the other owner decided that he wanted to sell. By acquiring the other interest we leave no chance that an ownership dispute could arise and keep this incredible land protected within the park.

We are currently working to convey ownership to the MnDNR and expect that will be completed in 2019.